I don't know how many bow fishermen there are in Pennsylvana. Heck, even the state Fish and Boat Commission doesn't really know, since there is no special license (other than a regular fishing license) required.

But, however many bow fishermen there are, you can bet they'll be all fired up when they learn that the Fish and Boat Commission has approved a regulatory change that now allows bowfishing for catfish.

The change, which was approved today at the commission's quarterly meeting in Harrisburg, means bow anglers can now shoot catfish in addition to carp and suckers, which were already legal. Problem is, most folks aren't too interested in eating carp or suckers, so the bow anglers are happy they now can pursue a species they might actually want to take home for dinner.

Bill Simbeck of St. Mary's, Elk County, a representative of the Bowfishing Association of America, told commissioners the change could help with removal of invasive flathead catfish, which occupy many of the state's waterways, including the Delaware and Susquehanna river drainages.

"My friends on the Susquehanna River are seeing quite a lot of them," said Simbeck, adding that many flatheads in the 20-30-pound class have been caught there.

Interestingly enough, the state record flathead was this 48-pound, 6-ounce monster caught last year from the Blue Marsh spillway by James R. Shabrach of Boyertown. So, if you are interested in getting into bowfishing, it appears there are plenty of trophy sized cats to stalk in local waters.

Commission officials said they had received requests to legalize bowfishing for catfish from about 10 anglers over the past two years. Since catfish are abundant throughout the state, and there are relatively few avid bow fishermen, commissioners didn't see any reason to oppose the change.

Interestingly, bowfishing for catfish and all species of herring except shad was already legal on the Delaware River - but nowhere else in the state. The change approved Tuesday expands bowfishing for catfish statewide and also removed herring from the list of approved bowfishing species on the Delaware because herring species are in decline up and down the Atlantic Coast.